Category: Event Planning

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most loved celebrations not only in Ireland but in the Americas as well as places in Australia. However, some dreams of experiencing it first hand and oftentimes includes celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin in their ultimate wish lists and bucket lists. However, celebrating it in a new or unfamiliar city like Dublin can be too overwhelming for some, and can sometimes experience embarrassing interactions with locals.

This guide will help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Sydney or even in other places across the globe.

Do stay for more than one day

When celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in a specific city especially in Ireland, it is advisable to stay longer than a day. Arrive ahead of the scheduled parades to be able to familiarize yourself with the area and get the chance to discover the other beauties of the place that may take a step back and go unnoticed on the actual day of the celebration. Extending your stay also allows you to see more of Ireland or the city you are in after the busy crowd and the celebrations.

Knowing where the restaurants are, banks, public transportation and a few tourist attractions will save you time from having to go around looking for a specific establishment. If travelling to a country with a different language, be sure to know a few of the language as well.

Do dress in green but do not go overboard

Everyone is practically wearing green during the festivities of St. Patrick to avoid bad luck. Most of them are also holding a pint of Guinness in their hand and will most likely commit a dozen faux pas before Sunday lunch is consumed. However, it would not be advisable to paint your whole body with green or arrive in a sexy leprechaun costume. Wear something comfortable yet festive to be able to fit in with the crowd. St. Patrick’s Day costumes can also be easily bought online.

Accessorize

Green accessories, glittered hats and flamboyant make-up will help complete your St. Patrick’s Day look. You might want to check Pinterest and YouTube for make-up tutorials and accessories that you can use for St. Patrick’s Day. If you do not have the time to create a costume or accessory for the event, you might want to check Parties Online Australia to see their range of costumes and accessories perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

No Hawaiian vacation would be complete without attending a luau. The word luau really just means a party or a celebration. Typically in ancient Hawaiian culture luaus were given to celebrate the birth of a child or a wedding. These days the word luau has become a household name all across the United States. When we think of a luau today, we think of those cheap plastic lays and those silly plastic tiki cups. Oh, but a luau is so much more. In Hawaii there are two basic types of luau. The first type closely resembles that of the original type of luau. This is a private gathering of friends and family for a celebration. This post will definitely help you in having more Hawaiian Luau party ideas.

The second type of luau is a commercial luau open to the public and what we tourists typically visit. While in the state of Hawaii there will be many different luaus to choose from. They are basically all the same, with a few different high points. Arriving guests are greeted with a fresh flower leu. The entertainment is usually choreographed and top notch, complete with hula dancers and fire eaters. Sometimes the guests provide some of the entertainment themselves. It’s always fun watching grown men wear hula skirts and try to learn this complicated dance. There are different options for food and drink as well. I myself prefer the open bar type. The food is usually a buffet, consisting of a roasted pig or perhaps some sort of roast beef, rice, and of course the Hawaiian staple…pineapple.

I have to mention some of the best known luaus and those with the best reputation. While in Maui, the Old Lahaina Luau is the one not to be missed. This is the most authentic Luau on the island. The hula dancers are superb and the food is of the highest quality. The other luaus available in Maui are usually done at the resorts and lack the realism of Old Lahaina. Because of it’s popularity, the Old Lahaina Luau does require reservations. In fact, I would recommend that you make your reservations before you even leave for Hawaii.

While visiting the big island, again there are a plethora of options to choose from. Kona seems to be a popular town for the luau. King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel offers a Luau with a shell lei greeting, and a torch lighting ceremony. Check with the hotel for luau days. On the mornings of luaus spectators can watch the hotel staff bury the pig in the sand and begin roasting.

The island of Kaui offers a couple of luau’s of its own. Both the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort and the Kilohana Plantation have nice luaus complete with open bars, fire eaters and of course, hula dancers.

Whichever island or islands you choose to visit while in Hawaii, a Hawaiian luau is a must. Whether the gorgeous hula girls are your thing (scantily clad Polynesian dancers for the ladies) or you are just there for the food, a luau is sure to please.

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year where I can scare kids for free! Joking aside, what I love about Halloweens is the chance of being creative and showcasing my talent when it comes to decorating our home and our yard.

However, do we really have to decorate during Halloween? How did this originated? I feel the need to explain why such practice is present before detailing on what I plan to do to scare kids and adults alike this coming Halloween. Here is a brief history on why Halloween decoration pieces became an annual fall ritual during Halloween.

Decorating for Halloween goes as far as a thousand year. However, it was not always fun and entertaining. There is indeed a spooky side in history on why we decorate for this specific occasion. Halloween is the end of the summer festival Samhain. During this period the ancient Celtic people honored gods and goddesses of the harvest by holding such events. This is the time wherein people show gratitude for a bountiful harvest to the gods. The celebration included a feast and a lot of dancing. Animal sacrifices were also a staple during these events. However, the Samhain is also a time for darkness, fear and spooky superstitions. The soul of the dead returns to life during this period and would mingle discretely among the living.

Villagers who had no idea on who they might be lingering with would take necessary precautions to prevent themselves from being disturbed by these spirits. Lanterns with frightening faces are cut into the flesh of turnips and are even used as lanterns by villagers to light their path as they attend the Samhain festival. These scary lanterns are believed to be used to cast bad spirits away and the dangers that they may inflict in the living. Others would go as far as wearing masks of animal skins and other frightening disguises to ward themselves against the evil spirits. They believe that looking scary may make spirits think that they too are already part of the other world.

Whether these stories are true or not, frightening masks and lanterns managed to become decorations, and not the original spirit protectors that they were designed and created for. Nowadays, decors for Halloween can go from scary to terrifying to child friendly to creatively fun and entertaining. It is all up to you on how you would want to decorate.

However, for me, I would rather stick with the scary and frightening to protect my home from the creatures of the dark lurking in the shadows during this once dreadful season. Kidding! I just enjoy scaring kids minus the guilt during this time of the year.

Masquerade balls can be traced back as far as the 15th century. Every one hoped to be invited into one where they arrive in lavish dresses and intricate masks. Nowadays, masquerade balls are still popular but not as frequent as it was before back in the days. Masquerade balls are not just for Halloween, for some consider dressing up magnificently in costumes even in formal occasions. Some even host this kinds of party just for an excuse of having fun.

So how do you actually dress up for a masquerade ball? Here are some ideas you can try to be in your best costume at your next masquerade ball.

The dress is most likely a gown or a pair of outfit for men that took inspiration from the 15th century era. Fancy would be the perfect term one can use to describe the look of your outfit. There will be a lot of old medieval prints with laces and petticoats for women. The corset top is also a common look for dresses in this theme. Men on the other hand should adapt the old Englishmen look with long sleeved tops with long tuxedo cuts at the back and pants paired with long English boots. Colors for men outfit are either leaning on the light ones or the dark ones, never in between.

The Mask

Masquerade ball masks are a staple for this kind of parties. A great mask is sometimes really required to complete the look for your masquerade attire. There are so many options to choose from and you can even easily make your own. Simply but a plain white mask on your local bookstore and decorate it with gems, rhinestones, sequins and feathers of your choice. Party supply stores like Parties Online on the other hand have readily available masquerade ball masks for your choosing. Or if you do not feel like wearing a mask, you can use make-up or face paint to draw a mask directly onto your face.

Neutral colors such as black and white are the most often used shade when it comes to shoes for a masquerade ball attire. Just make sure that your shoes match your dress. Women can actually get away with any kind of shoe for such parties since most masquerade ball dresses are of long length. However, to complete the look, one can still dress up and match their shoes accordingly. Heels can be a good choice for women, but you can still go for flats to stay comfortable especially if you plan to do a lot of dancing in the party.

Practicality in mind, it would be advisable to get shoes that can be used for other party themes as well. Your dress on the other hand can be rented or bought from specialty dress stores if your budget permits. Masquerade masks are great bedroom accessories on the other hand once your done with them at the party.

Weddings are such beautiful and memorable occasions to witness. Although so many emotions can build up during the one hour or less ceremony, more of the celebration continues as the bride and groom exits the church. The celebration of life and love continues at the wedding party, one of the most entertaining moments of weddings.

Here are some fun and interesting ideas and tips one can incorporate in their wedding party celebration.

Make your guest feel that they played a significant role in your love story and happy beginning by incorporating them into your wedding party décor. You can have a gallery of meaningful photos where you can hang pictures of the bride and the groom, together with their families and friends in a picture wall along the sides of your reception area. This can be a good conversation starter as well. You can get wedding party supplies online to go along with these lovely memories.

A New Way to Break the Ice

Remove the tension and the tears that fell during the wedding ceremony by skipping, dancing and hopping while entering the reception area. You can even have a prepared dance number to “Wow” the crowd and break the ice completely. This is also a great way to start the celebration with fun and more entertainment to look forward too.

Kids on the reception can get bored with all the adult stuff going on in the party. Be sure that the little tykes are also entertained during the event. You can have a small inflatable balloon were kids can play with supervision during the reception and the party. A picture booth with costumes to wear has also become a staple in most wedding parties. Include a lot of dancing and interaction among your guests when conceptualizing games to ensure that everyone would gain a friend or two after the celebration.

Be Entertaining

Have a background music playing throughout the celebration to keep the pace going for your guests. Change the mood according to the current activity to keep the vibe fun and light. You can even have small puzzles or crosswords placed on the tables to entertain guests while shifting from one part of the program to another. A live band is also a great idea especially if there are a lot of singers willing to give a song or two during the event.

Surprise Your Guests

Surprise your guests with the party favors that you are giving out. It can be a nice book that can inspire them as they go home reminiscing the good time they had during your wedding party. Chocolates for the kids, a little music box with the bride and groom dancing inside when opened. You can even share a few special gifts for the special people that helped you throughout the planning of the wedding up to the celebration like your parents, friends and even your wedding planner.

Your wedding party does not necessarily need to be as unique as possible or as grand as the others. As long as your guests are happy and the bride and groom are happy, you can consider your wedding party as a perfect one.

Party goers, young and old alike, love attending such gatherings because it places them in a playful setting where they can simply have fun while interacting with their peers. These parties also encourage participants to be creative and resourceful as they craft their own costumes. Donning colorful clothing (as well as masks, whenever appropriate) can be a great way to make future gatherings interesting and memorable.

This idea can work for your child’s birthday celebration or even for an upcoming office event.

If you’re starting to feel convinced, allow me to share some practical pointers to make your costume party a success:

Pick a Theme

The first thing on your to-do list is to choose an appropriate theme. The beauty of costume parties is that you will have a lot of possible options. For example, you can plan a “Prehistoric Party” and require everyone to wear corresponding attire. Participants can arrive in caveman costumes – or in Flintstone-style clothing!

The recent popularity of superhero flicks has brought these spandex-clad characters back to mainstream consciousness and so hosting a “Superhero Party” can be an effective idea. Imagine your boss donning a Batman costume or your co-worker wearing Captain America’s patriotic suit. You really can’t go wrong with this fun party theme! Looking for cool costume party ideas? Head over to Party Supplies Online website for inspiration.

Inform Participants Early

Spread the word about the event at least two or three weeks in advance. This allows you to build excitement among participants plus this gives them ample time to prepare. Keep in mind that some people prefer to create their own costumes (as opposed to simply buying from the stores) that’s why it’s crucial that you inform expected guests ahead of time.

You can simply print out invitation cards and then distribute them later on, making sure that the party’s theme, venue, time, and date are all indicated.

Decorate the Party Place

Decorating your venue with the right props and accessories is crucial. Of course, the overall concept should be based on the event’s theme. For example, a “Pirate Party” will mean that you will have to fill the place with improvised ships, parrots, and treasure chests.

It all depends on how much budget is allocated for the party decors. So think out of the box and try to avoid the dangers of overspending.

Prepare Fun Activities (And Prizes, Too!)

Keep everyone entertained by preparing exciting games and activities. Consider the ages and interests of the participants as you plan the games. “Pin The Tale” and thinking of Batman party games, for instance, can be a hit among youngsters but you can always do variations of it if the players are mostly adults. Charades is another guaranteed crowd-pleaser as long as you can come up with interesting categories.

Also, be sure to prepare prizes for games winners. Give “Best in Costume” awards too to recognize the efforts of those who came with the most imaginative costumes.

By following these four simple tips, you can look forward to having a blast on your next party!

I know I told you that I love doing and organizing events and parties. However, if you really think you’ll be in better hands if you hire professional caterers, then so be it. Remember, when it comes to planning any event or family gathering, the food and venue will usually take up the largest part of your budget. This is why you should invest time looking for a good catering service so you can also get the most out of your event planning. Here are some tips you can use when you go look for caterers.

The first thing that needs to be done is to set a budget for the whole event. From that budget itself, allocate an ideal expenses range you can afford to spend on the catering. It’s also necessary to think about your preferences. What type of reception ambiance are you vying for, for instance? Determine the number of people who will be invited to your gathering. Apart from giving a headcount of the number of guests to the caterer, you would also need this number in planning the total budget for the catering.

If you already have a desired venue in mind, make it a point to ask about their availability for the time and date you chose for the event. Also be mindful of their catering rules, if any. Some restaurants and hotels, for instance, already have their preferred event caterers – most likely companies or individuals they have worked with before. You can ask suggestions from them, or you can also opt to hire your own caterer depending on their protocols.

When it comes to choosing a caterer, the best way to go is through referrals. Of course, how would you know if a company is trustworthy and really delivers quality services if you don’t have enough proof from your own social circles? If you don’t want yourself to be limited to the recommendations you get from your family and friends, there are always review sites and online directories of catering companies that operate in your locale. Check them out online so you can get started on your search.

Be sure to make a shortlist of candidates for the position of event caterers. Consider those companies and individuals that have good recommendations and reviews, first and foremost. The second thing to look into is the services and catering packages that they offer. Ask for proposals from candidates that seem promising to you so you can also better assess which one can give you the best benefits for your budget.

Make sure to sample the food you’re planning to have for the event. Also make it a point to check out the company’s portfolio so you can also see real samples of functions and gatherings they’ve handled before. Apart from the food, it’s also recommended to check out their table/dining ware and other catering equipment to ensure that they are up to your liking. Ensure that you see the utensils they will specifically use right from the start, especially if they will be renting from a catering equipment rentals company.

As for the costs, many ignore the idea of giving an exact budget to the caterers. You can simply tell them about your preferred budget range, so you can also ask about discounts in the process. At least give them an idea how much budget they are going to work on so they can better plan and suggest catering ideas that will be suitable to the budget you have in mind. To avoid surprises in the end, be upfront with the caterers. Ask what you will specifically get with your preferred budget – what will be in the menu, the tableware that will be used, as well as other particulars that are included in their packages. Do they provide the venue decorations, for instance? You can always search for party supplies at partiesonline.com.au and get themed party inspirations online. Last but not the least, insist on a contract or written agreement with the catering company so you can have the specifics of catering services be laid out clearly.